Ancient MesopotamiaAncient MesopotamiaBy: Spencer Ramirez, Chris Swenson, and Cameron TegelerBy: Spencer Ramirez, Chris Swenson, and Cameron Tegeler

What is Mesopotamia?What is Mesopotamia?• Mesopotamia is the Greek word for “between Mesopotamia is the Greek word for “between

the rivers” (Unknown.)the rivers” (Unknown.)• It was given this name because it was located It was given this name because it was located

between two rovers, the Tigris and Euphrates.between two rovers, the Tigris and Euphrates.• They flow through what in modern days Iraq.They flow through what in modern days Iraq.• It’s nickname was “the fertile crescent” It’s nickname was “the fertile crescent”

(Martin.)(Martin.)

Northern Mesopotamia: Northern Mesopotamia: • Northern Mesopotamia is made up of hills and Northern Mesopotamia is made up of hills and

plains. plains. • The land is quite fertile due to seasonal rains, The land is quite fertile due to seasonal rains,

and the rivers and streams flowing from the and the rivers and streams flowing from the mountains. mountains.

• Early settlers farmed the land and used Early settlers farmed the land and used timber, metals and stone from the mountains timber, metals and stone from the mountains nearby.nearby.

Southern Mesopotamia:Southern Mesopotamia:• Southern Mesopotamia is made up of marshy Southern Mesopotamia is made up of marshy

areas and wide, flat, barren plains.areas and wide, flat, barren plains.• Early settlers had to irrigate the land along Early settlers had to irrigate the land along

the banks of the rivers in order for their crops the banks of the rivers in order for their crops to grow. to grow.

• Since they did not have many natural Since they did not have many natural resources, contact with neighboring lands was resources, contact with neighboring lands was important.important.

The rivers:The rivers:• Tigris and Euphrates rivers are in Southwest Tigris and Euphrates rivers are in Southwest

Asia.Asia.• They start in mountains of todayʼs Turkey, They start in mountains of todayʼs Turkey,

Kurdistan. Kurdistan. • They flow southeast through todayʼs Iraq to They flow southeast through todayʼs Iraq to

Persian Gulf.Persian Gulf.

Floods and Droughts:Floods and Droughts:Floods:Floods:

• Annual flood was unpredictable and came Annual flood was unpredictable and came sometime between April and Junesometime between April and June

• Farmers didn't know when to plant because a Farmers didn't know when to plant because a flood could come any time and destroy the crops.flood could come any time and destroy the crops.Drought:Drought:

• A period without enough rain and snowfall which A period without enough rain and snowfall which caused lowered river levels.caused lowered river levels.

• It made it hard to water crops because people It made it hard to water crops because people would starved if there were not enough crops to would starved if there were not enough crops to produce food to eat.produce food to eat.

Irrigation:Irrigation:• By 6000 B.C., irrigation canals carried water By 6000 B.C., irrigation canals carried water

from rivers to fields.from rivers to fields.• Workers had to unclog canals and built dams Workers had to unclog canals and built dams

to hold back floodwaters.to hold back floodwaters.

Neighboring RegionsNeighboring Regions• The region roughly containing the Asian part The region roughly containing the Asian part

of modern Turkey are referred to as Anatolia of modern Turkey are referred to as Anatolia (Heise.) (Heise.)

• Iran is roughly equivalent to Persia and Iran is roughly equivalent to Persia and including in its southwestern part ancient including in its southwestern part ancient Elam.Elam.

First language:First language:• At first there was no written language, At first there was no written language,

everything was was entirely written in everything was was entirely written in pictures. This is known as pictographic.pictures. This is known as pictographic.

• Sumerian has no known relation to any other Sumerian has no known relation to any other language. language.

Language:Language:• The Sumerian language is not Semitic. It is a The Sumerian language is not Semitic. It is a

so called “agglutinating” language (Heise.)so called “agglutinating” language (Heise.)• Semitic means, “a member of any of a Semitic means, “a member of any of a

number of peoples of ancient southwestern number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs” (Webster.) Hebrews, and Arabs” (Webster.)

• Agglutinating means, “to combine into a Agglutinating means, “to combine into a compound; attach to a base as an affix” compound; attach to a base as an affix” (Webster.)(Webster.)

Religion:Religion:• People lived mainly to please the many gods People lived mainly to please the many gods

they worshiped.they worshiped.• Each city had its own main god that it Each city had its own main god that it

worshiped.worshiped.• They believed the Earth was created by Ea They believed the Earth was created by Ea

heard of Apsu’s plot to kill all the younger heard of Apsu’s plot to kill all the younger gods. He, with the help of his brothers and gods. He, with the help of his brothers and sisters, put Apsu to sleep then killed him. His sisters, put Apsu to sleep then killed him. His dead body was then used to create the Earth dead body was then used to create the Earth (Mark.)(Mark.)

Mesopotamian gods:Mesopotamian gods:• Tiamat – goddess of creative choas.Tiamat – goddess of creative choas.• Ishtar – goddess of love and war.Ishtar – goddess of love and war.• Apsu – god of water and oceans.Apsu – god of water and oceans.• Anu – god of sky, father of all fathers.Anu – god of sky, father of all fathers.• Inanna – god of words and language.Inanna – god of words and language.

More Mesopotamian More Mesopotamian gods:gods:

• Adad – god of storms.Adad – god of storms.• Garra – god of fire.Garra – god of fire.• Enlil – god of water and wisdom.Enlil – god of water and wisdom.• Enten – god of winter.Enten – god of winter.• Irra – god of plegues.Irra – god of plegues.

Class systems:Class systems:• Mesopotamia classified the people as priests, Mesopotamia classified the people as priests,

upper class, lower class, or slaves.upper class, lower class, or slaves.• Each class had different roles, social status, Each class had different roles, social status,

and jobs to do.and jobs to do.• Some where valued as more important while Some where valued as more important while

others were treated badly.others were treated badly.

The Priests:The Priests:• The priests were powerful and were in charge The priests were powerful and were in charge

of making sure everyone behaved in a way of making sure everyone behaved in a way that would make the gods happy. that would make the gods happy.

• They were also the doctors of the time. They were also the doctors of the time.

Upper Class:Upper Class:• The upper class where richer, more well off The upper class where richer, more well off

people.people.• Men and women wore jewelry, especially Men and women wore jewelry, especially

rings. Men wore skirts and had long hair, curly rings. Men wore skirts and had long hair, curly moustaches, and long beards. Women wore moustaches, and long beards. Women wore dresses, off one shoulder. They had long hair, dresses, off one shoulder. They had long hair, which they braided or wore up in fancy which they braided or wore up in fancy arrangements.arrangements.

Lower Class:Lower Class:• Although the lower class did not have the Although the lower class did not have the

luxury lifestyle of the rich, they were luxury lifestyle of the rich, they were comfortable. They worked very hard, but they comfortable. They worked very hard, but they had homes. had homes.

• They wore jewelry, although perhaps it was They wore jewelry, although perhaps it was not made of gold. They followed the clothing not made of gold. They followed the clothing fashions of the time as much as possible. fashions of the time as much as possible. 

• There was no law that said they could not There was no law that said they could not move up the social scale, or more likely, have move up the social scale, or more likely, have their children move up the social scale by their children move up the social scale by becoming a scribe, or a priest or priestess.becoming a scribe, or a priest or priestess.

The Slaves:The Slaves:• Slaves worked for the king, the temple and Slaves worked for the king, the temple and

the wealthy. Slaves were bought and sold. the wealthy. Slaves were bought and sold. • Records have been found recording the Records have been found recording the

amount paid for a slave.amount paid for a slave.• Typically, a slave bought at auction cost less Typically, a slave bought at auction cost less

than a donkey but more than a cow.than a donkey but more than a cow.

Questions:Questions:1.1. What is the nickname of Mesopotamia?What is the nickname of Mesopotamia?2.2. What does Mesopotamia mean?What does Mesopotamia mean?3.3. What two rivers is it located between?What two rivers is it located between?4.4. What was Southern Mesopotamia like?What was Southern Mesopotamia like?5.5. What where two problems early settlers What where two problems early settlers

faced?faced?

More QUESTIONS:More QUESTIONS:6.6. What did they use to solve these problems?What did they use to solve these problems?7.7. How was the original language written?How was the original language written?8.8. Name three gods the Mesopotamians Name three gods the Mesopotamians

believed in?believed in?9.9. What were the four class systems?What were the four class systems?10.10. About how much was a slave worth?About how much was a slave worth?

Citations:Citations:1.1. Heise, John. "II Mesopotamia." Heise, John. "II Mesopotamia." Www.sron.nl. Www.sron.nl.

N.p., 06 Jan. 1995. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.N.p., 06 Jan. 1995. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.

2.2. Mark, Joshua J. "Mesopotamian Religion." Mark, Joshua J. "Mesopotamian Religion." Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 22 Feb. Ancient History Encyclopedia. N.p., 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.2011. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.

3.3. Martin, Phillip. "Mesopotamia - Geography & Martin, Phillip. "Mesopotamia - Geography & Maps." Maps." Mesopotamia for Kids - Geography & Mesopotamia for Kids - Geography & Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.

4.4. Unknown. "Geography." Unknown. "Geography." Geography. The Geography. The British Museum, n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.British Museum, n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.

More Citations:More Citations:5.5. Webster, Merriam. "Agglutinate Definition." Webster, Merriam. "Agglutinate Definition."

Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.Web. 01 Sept. 2013.

6.6. Webster, Merriam. ”Semite Definition." Webster, Merriam. ”Semite Definition." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 01 Sept. 2013.Web. 01 Sept. 2013.